Rhode Island

History: The first people to inhabit what is now Rhode Island came about 20,000 years ago. Native American tribes living in the area during the time of European exploration were – the Narrgansett, Wampanoag, Pequot, and Niantic. The Italian explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano explored the area in 1524. In 1636, Roger Williams, expelled from Massachusetts because of his religious beliefs, founded the Rhode Island colony. Rhode Island was the first colony to declare its independence from Great Britain, but was the last of the original colonies to ratify (sign) the U.S. Constitution. It thus became the 13^th original state on May 29^th, 1790. The state is officially called the ‘State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations’.

Economy: Originally, the economy was based on fishing. In the early 1800’s Rhode Island industrialized due to water/steam power and the textile industry grew. Later, banking, finance, and insurance became large parts of the economy. Since the late 1990’s health services companies are the state’s largest employer. Almost all U.S. submarines have been built in Groton.

Geography: There are a great many hills, in the western two-thirds of Rhode Island (part of the New England Upland) which are as high as 800 feet above sea level. There are a lot of rocks and boulders lying on the land with bits of granite and gneiss (type of rock). Rhode Island is nicknamed the Ocean State due to having a lot of oceanfront beaches. Rhode Island has two distinct natural regions, the lowlands in the east, and the part that forms New England Upland in the west. (above)

Climate: Rhode Island has mostly a humid continental climate, with warm summers and cold winters. Due to its location in New England, it is vulnerable to tropical storms and hurricanes. The southern coastal regions of the state get more subtropical climates, with hot summers and cool winters along with a mix of rain and snow.

Fun Facts:

Rhode Island is the smallest state in size in the U.S., only 37 miles wide and 48 miles long. Many counties are larger than this state.
The nation’s oldest carousel, the Flying Horse Carousel, is in Watch Hill.
The first circus in the nation was held in Newport in 1774.
A judge imposed the first jail sentence for speeding in a car on August 28, 1904 in Newport.
The oldest schoolhouse in the U.S., built in 1716, is in Portsmouth.
Rhode Island has a reputation for making fine jewelry and silverware.

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